It's not going on sale until this summer, but we recently got behind the wheel of the new 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor high-performance offroad pickup and thrashed it like a trophy truck through the sand and dirt of Baja, Mexico.

OK, so we virtually thrashed it.

Until now, we've only had the chance to ride shotgun in the real Raptor, but Ford brought a Raptor simulator to the San Diego Auto Show and gave attendees the opportunity to drive a digital version of the truck through a three-dimensional desert course. The computer-controlled motion system was built by Force Dynamics. It features three linked LCD screens plus an actual seat and steering wheel from a Raptor.

How'd it feel? Quite realistic and impressive. The simulator tilted, rumbled and rolled to give us the feel of a 6.2-liter V-8 and long-travel suspension accelerating and jumping over whoops and washboards. But with others going before us and more waiting in line to prove their offroad mettle, we focused on getting the fastest time through the race course. We wound up with the fastest time of the day; not bad for being No. 4 in line.